Manx2

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Manx2
Industry Travel
Successor(s) Citywing
Founded 11 May 2006 (2006-05-11)
Defunct 31 December 2012 (2012-12-31)
Headquarters Isle of Man Airport, Isle of Man
Key people Noel Hayes (Chairman
David Buck (MD) [1]

Manx2 was a virtual commuter airline with its head office in Hangar 9, Isle of Man Airport in Ballasalla, Malew, Isle of Man.[2] It sold flights and services from several airports in the UK with bases in Belfast City, Blackpool, Cardiff and Isle of Man.[3] The flights were operated for Manx2 by a number of airlines including, Van Air Europe, FLM Aviation and Links Air.[4] In December 2012 the assets of Manx2 were sold to citywing and Manx2's last flight took place on 31 December 2012[5]

History

Manx2 was launched on 11 May 2006, with services starting on 15 July. Its chairman was Noel Hayes.[3] Manx2 was founded by the team who set up the Blue Islands airline, which serves the Channel Islands.

On 11 July 2006, Manx2 took delivery of its first chartered aircraft, a Let L-410 Turbolet painted in the new corporate colours of Manx2.[6] The aircraft was initially operated by 'BASe Air Kft' (Budapest Air Services) under the call sign 'Base' and the flight code 'BPS'. The first three routes to be announced by Manx2 were from the Isle of Man to Belfast International and Blackpool on 15 July, followed by Leeds Bradford on 12 August 2006.

Manx2 introduced the BAe Jetstream 31 into its fleet in September 2006 with the aircraft being operated by Jetstream Executive Travel. Initially only one Jetstream 31 was added to the fleet to operate the Isle of Man to Leeds Bradford service.

Manx2 added a Fairchild Metroliner from Flightline BCN to its fleet for a period and extended its route network to include Belfast City. Routes to Belfast City and Blackpool are now flown by two 19-seat[7] turboprop Let L-410 aircraft from European operator VanAir Europe.[8]

On 3 September 2007, Manx2 launched a new twice-daily service connecting Manx2's base on the Isle of Man with Gloucestershire Airport, located at Staverton between Gloucester and Cheltenham, within an hour of major cities such as Birmingham and Bristol. This route now competes with Flybe which flies to Birmingham. The route also has a seasonal extension to Jersey on Saturdays.

For 2008, Manx 2 added two Dornier 228 aircraft to its fleet and carried 100,000 passengers that year. A third Do 228 was added in 2009. In 2009, Manx2 announced it had carried its 250,000th passenger. It also announced an increased frequency of five flights daily on its main route from Blackpool and additional flights to Belfast City.

The flagship route to Blackpool was subsequently increased to ten flights per day after the company launched 15 days free parking for its customers at Blackpool airport,[9] while the Belfast City flights have surpassed the former Island flag carrier's numbers.[10] A new base was established at Belfast City with additional frequency to the Isle of Man and Cork. The Leeds Bradford route also operates daily.[11] The Gloucestershire route is operated every weekday morning[11] and evening and has been a great success with the benefit of permanent free parking at Gloucester.[12] In August 2009 a new route was started[13] to Newcastle upon Tyne, and in May 2010 the company succeeded[14] in tendering for a seven month Public Service Obligation contract to operate the Cardiff–Isle of Anglesey route for the Welsh Assembly Government. This contract has subsequently been extended for a further four years.[15]

Shortly thereafter Manx2 launched a service from Galway to Belfast and the Isle of Man, and in September 2010 a twice daily service between Belfast and Cork was launched. This service ceased in March 2011 following an accident involving the operator of the route, Flightline BCN.[16] and Manx2 ceased its leasing arrangement with Flightline BCN.[17] Manx2 has since exited the Irish market, having cancelled its seasonal Belfast - Galway service.

Services between Belfast City and Isle of Man were increased,[18] and through Services to Gloucester (Staverton) from Belfast City have been launched.[19] The company also operates seasonal services between Isle of Man and Anglesey (Valley) Airport.[20] A new service to London Oxford airport was announced, and services began seven days a week starting May 2012 and this service continued through to January 2013.

On 22 November 2012, Manx2.com announced a buy out of its business by Citywing Aviation Services Ltd, a new company formed by a management buyout team.[21] Manx2's last flight took place on 31 December 2012.[22] From 1 January 2013, all flights were transferred to Citywing.[23]

Destinations

Fleet

A FLM Aviation Dornier 228 at Gloucestershire Airport operating services for Manx2

The Manx2 business was often referred to as a virtual airline. Manx2 did not own any aircraft directly but by virtue of its branding and advertising, sold tickets on flights operated on its behalf by other airlines, with some painted in the Manx2.com livery. The following aircraft operated on services for Manx2 by airline operators as of 10 February 2011 (2011-02-10):[25]

Manx2 fleet
Aircraft Total Seats Operated By
Jetstream 31 2 19 Links Air[26]
Let L-410 Turbolet 4 17 Van Air Europe[27]
Total 6

Accidents and incidents

  • On 10 February 2011, a Fairchild SA 227-BC Metro III owned by the Spanish airline Air Lada registered EC-ITP, was operating a scheduled flight under the AOC of Flightline S.L on behalf of Manx2. The flight NM7100 was operating from Belfast-City to Cork with ten passengers and two crew. At 09:50 hrs during the third attempt to land at Cork Airport in low visibility conditions, control was lost and the aircraft impacted the runway. The aircraft came to a rest inverted in soft ground to the right of the runway surface. Post impact fires occurred in both engines which were quickly extinguished by the Airport Fire Service (AFS). Six persons, including both pilots, were fatally injured. Four passengers were seriously injured and two received minor injuries.[28][29]
  • On 8 March 2012, BAe Jetstream 3102 G-CCPW of Links Air, operating Manx2 Flight 302 from Leeds-Bradford to Ronaldsway departed from the paved surface of the runway after landing at Ronaldsway. The aircraft was substantially damaged when the starboard undercarriage collapsed.[30] There were no injuries amongst the twelve passengers and two crew.[31]

References

  1. ↑ "David Buck is new MD at Manx2. com". iomtoday, 18 January 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Customer Services." Manx2. Retrieved on 11 February 2011. "Our head office is located at: Manx2 Limited Hanger 9 Isle of Man Airport Ballasalla, Isle Of Man IM9 2AY."
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-10. pp. 47–48. 
  4. ↑ "Links Air. Executive Corporate Travel. Chartered Airline. Fleet". Linksair.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  5. ↑ http://www.citywingnews.com
  6. ↑ "VAN AIR Europe a.s. - Let 410 Pictures". Vanair.org. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  7. ↑ "VAN AIR Europe a.s. - Let 410 Specification". Vanair.org. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  8. ↑ "VAN AIR Europe a.s. - Contact". Vanair.org. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  9. ↑ "Airport Facilities - UK and European destinations with both charter and scheduled flights". Blackpool International. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  10. ↑ "Trend continues with Airport passenger numbers 4.8% down - Isle of Man Airport Website". Gov.im. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Manx2 Timetable". Airkiosk.com. 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  12. ↑ "Gloucestershire Airport Information Pack". Gloucestershire Airport. January 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Manx2 Steps in to 'Save' Newcastle Link | Newsroom". Isleofman.com. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  14. ↑ "Cardiff Airport". AirportWatch. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  15. ↑ "Manx2.com wins Wales Air Link contract - Cardiff Airport". Tbicardiffairport.com. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  16. ↑ "Flightline". Aircharterguide.com. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  17. ↑ Flightline BCN no longer operating flights for Manx2 following crash
  18. ↑ "Isle of Man - Manx2.com to launch new Belfast timetable". IFC Feed. 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  19. ↑ "Take off to Belfast from Gloucestershire Airport". Gloucestershire Airport. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012. 
  20. ↑ "By air". Visitanglesey.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-30. 
  21. ↑ http://www.citywingnews.com/management-buy-out-at-manx2-com/
  22. ↑ http://www.citywingnews.com/citywing-takes-to-the-skies/
  23. ↑ http://www.manx2blog.com/2012/11/management-buy-out-at-manx2-com/
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/letters/open-skies-study-is-sensible-move-1-5158733
  25. ↑ "Manx2 Fleet Listing." Jethro's UK and Ireland Fleet Listings. Retrieved on 9 February 2012.
  26. ↑ Links Air fleet
  27. ↑ Van Air Europe aircraft documents
  28. ↑ RTÉ - Six Killed in Cork plane crash
  29. ↑ BBC - Plane wreckage being removed from Cork Airport runway
  30. ↑ Hradecky, Simon (8 March 2012). "Accident: Linksair JS31 at Isle of Man on Mar 8th 2012, runway excursion, gear collapse". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2012. 
  31. ↑ "Passenger plane crash-lands at Ronaldsway Airport". BBC News Online. Retrieved 9 March 2012. 

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